The email was to Rabbi Ari Enkin of the United with Israel organisation, located in Beit Shemesh about 20m west of Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Post reported that in response to their inquires Zilli explained his email was written out of frustration at trying to unsubscribe to the newsletter.

“My irritating tone in my emails was never intended against Israel, against any religion, or culture but merely against this constant receiving of emails in my professional inbox.

“I was talking for myself and not in the name of the European Commission, the European Union or anyone else… my sincere apologies if this has been interpreted otherwise.”

The Research Executive Agency for which Zilli works manages a large share of the Horizon 2020 programme, an EU research programme with €79bn worth of funding available for seven years to 2020.

The eurocrats at the commission claim the programme “promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market… The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.”